Surgical foot cast and appliances therefor



Aug. 2, 1966 F. M. HASS 3,263,679

SURGICAL FOOT CAST AND APPLIANCES THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12. 1964 /2 FIZZ-=11 so 32 INVENTOR. FREDERICK M 4945s ianhMara p United States Patent 3,263,679 SURGICAL FOOT CAST AND APPLIANCES THEREFOR Frederick M. Hass, 209 Parkview Terrace,

Minneapolis, Minn. 55416 Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 347,991 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-835) This invention relates to foot casts used for immobilizing the foot or both the leg and foot and more particularly 'to a foot cast having a cover for the toes.

When a cast is used in the treatment of broken bones and other injuries of the lower limbs, it is the usual practice to leave an opening at the forward end of the cast through which the patients toes can project. The toes may remain exposed but, in most cases, they are covered with some article usually of a makeshift nature such as a stocking. Besides having an unattractive appearance, these makeshift devices do not provide physical protection for the toes when it is "most needed. Moreover, the toes are often not protected adequately from cold weather. Even when a protective cover is used, it will often not reliably withstand outside forces or natural stresses subjected to it by the user, for example, in walking. A toe cover which permanently encloses the toes cannot be considered satisfactory because it is necessary for the physician to examine the toes occasionally to determine whether blood circulation is adequate as well as for other purposes.

Another deficiency of foot casts in common use is that the bottom of the cast often becomes weakened and breaks apart from continued use. This is especially true when the cast is used for walking. Breakage occurs commonly even though some form of reinforcing means is used with a so-called walking heel attached to its lower end. p

In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, it is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved surgical foot cast including a toe cover to protect the toes from impact as well as from cold weather and also to present an attractive appearance.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved foot cast with a toe cover including a means for securely retaining the cover in position over the toe of the user but wherein the cover can be readily removed from the cast when necessary.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved foot cast including a sole piece or base member which serves to reinforce the cast as well as provide a support means for a toe cover.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide. an improved foot cast including a sole piece or base member to reinforce the cast as well as provide a supporting base for a walking heel or the like. 7

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved foot cast and accessories therefor which are reliable in operation and rugged in construction.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved surgical foot cast having a reinforcing base member and a toe cover which are simply constructed and relatively low in cost.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a cast embodying one form of the present invention. v

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal sectional view of the cast of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the base plate and toe cover of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the outer margirl of the plaster portion of the cast in dotted lines.

Briefly stated, a preferred form of my invention provides a surgical foot cast of the type which has an opening at the forward end thereof through which the toes can project. A hollow toe cover is detachably secured to the forward end of the cast. There is preferably provided a means rigidly secured to the material of the cast and projecting forwardly through the opening to which the toe cover is secured. Specifically, I provide a horizontally disposed base plate adapted to be positioned against the sole of the users foot and embedded within the material of the past. This plate includes a forward extension projecting out through the opening at the for Ward end of the cast beneath the toes of the user and an arched member enclosing the forward portion of the foot. The toe cover can be slidably connected to this extension and detachably connected at its rearward end to the forward portion of the arch by means of a snap fitting. If the cast is to be used as a walking cast, a support member is provided. This support member extends downwardly from the base plate through an opening in the lower portion of the cast and includes a weight bearing surface at the lower end thereof.

, Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a foot cast 10 of the type commonly used for immobilizing the foot or the leg and foot in the treatment of broken bones or other injuries of the lower limb. The cast 10 is preferably formed from a number of wraps of a plaster saturated webbing 12 but can be formed in other ways.

According to a preferred form of practicing my invention, the foot and leg is first enclosed in an inner cast layer 14. A base plate 16 is then positioned adjacent the sole of the patients foot and the wrapping is continued to form a second layer 18 which encloses the rearward portion of the base plate 16 within the material of the cast 10.

The base plate 16 is normally horizontally disposed and is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the foot. The rearward aspect of the base plate 16 is preferably rounded at 20 and the other end thereof is provided with an extension 22 which projects forwardly through the opening 19 beneath the toes of the user. The forward edge 24 of extension 22 is also preferably rounded.

To increase the strength of the mechanical connection between the material of the cast 10 and the material of the base plate 16, the base plate is preferably provided with a plurality of surface irregularities such as transversely extending ribs 26. While the ribs 26 have been shown only on the lower surface thereof, it will be understood that similar irregularities can be provided on the upper surface of plate The forward extension 22 is provided with a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges 30 and 32, one on each side edge thereof for purposes hereinafter explained. Integral with the base plate 16, on each side thereof, is an iipwardly extending member in the form of an arch 3-4 which extends across the top of the forward portion of the foot. The arch 34 includes a transverse ridge 36 at the forward end thereof for purposes also explained hereinbelow. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and '3, at least the inner wall 35 of the arch 34 is tapered inwardly toward the forward portion of t he cast so that the inner surface thereof will conform closely to the general outline of the forward portion of the inner cast layer 14 which, of course, is tapered inwardly toward its forward end. If desired, the arch 34 can be provided with a plurality of transversely spaced apart longitudinally extending grooves 33 to impart additional resiliency to the ridge 36.

For the purpose of enclosing and protecting the toes there is provided a hollow toe cover 38 which can have any of a number of shapes as dictated by comfort and appearance but preferably takes the general form of a spheric sector of about ninety degrees and includes a lower horizontally disposed edge 40 and a substantially vertical rearward edge 42.

In most instances, it is desirable that the space within the cover 38 be Ventilated and for this purpose the cover 38 can be provided with a plurality of spaced apart perforations 44. The cover 38 is preferably of a size to provide spacing between the inner wall 46 thereof and the toes sufficient to receive an insulating layer of fibrous material 39 such as cotton batting or the like. The inner aspect of the lower edge 40 on each side of the cover 38 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove. These grooves are designated 48 and 50 respectively. They are parallel to each other and are adapted to exactly fit the flanges 30 and 32 respectively. The cover 38 can thus be slidably mounted on the extension 22 as shown in the figures. The rearward edge of the cover 38 includes an inwardly extending lip 52 adapted to cooperate with the rib 36 of the arched member 34.

When the cover 38 is to be placed in position over the toes, the grooved portions 48 and 50 are placed over the flanges 30 and 32 respectively. The cover is then moved rearwardly until the lip 52 slides over the ridge 36 and snaps into the locked position best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, when the cover 38 is in position for use, the lip 52 will be spaced rearwardly of the rib 36. When the cover 38 is to be removed for any reason, it can either be forced manually to the right in the figures or separated from the engagement with the rib 36 by means of a lever (not shown) of any suitable type placed between the forward part of the cast and the rear-ward edge 42 of the cover 38.

When the cast is to be used for walking or standing, the plate 16 preferably includes an integral support member 56 which extends downwardly from the central portion thereof through an opening in the cast 18. Support 56 includes a weight bearing surface 58 at the lower end thereof. To reduce the possibility of the user falling on a slippery surface, the support member 56 can be covered with a cap 60 formed from rubber or other resilient material. In many cases, however, the physician will not wish to have the patient walk on the cast and in these circumstances the support member 56 should, of course, be omitted.

The invention can be made in different sizes and preferably in at least three sizes, such as small, medium and large.

The invention thus provides a protective cover for the toes as well as an attractive appearance. The toe cover can be easily placed on the cast and easily detached when necessary but yet will remain securely held in place even though it is bumped or subjected to other outside forces. The plate 16 provides additional reinforcement for the lower portion of the cast which, in the past, has often shown excessive wear or breakage sometimes requiring replacement of the cast before it would otherwise be necessary.

The arch 34 provides a secure attachment for the cover 38 and also contributes additional strength to the forward part of the cast. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arch 34 extends between the east and the cover 38 thus preventing foreign material from entering the space provided for the toes. The fibrous material 39 placed between the cover and the toes also provides an excellent insulation against cold.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a surgical foot cast having an opening therein through which the toes can project, an elongate base member adapted to be positioned adjacent the sole of the foot and rigidly embedded within the material from which the cast is formed, an extension on said base member extending forwardly therefrom through said opening and adapted to extend beneath the toes of the user, a rigid hollow toe cover adapted to be positioned around the toes of the user and means detachably mounting said cover upon said exposed portion of said base member.

2. In a surgical foot cast having an opening therein at the forward end thereof through which the toes of the user can project, a rigid toe cover having a general shape of a spheric sector of about ninety degrees, means detachably securing said cover to the cast, a base plate rigidly secured within the cast and adapted to be positioned adjacent the sole of the foot of the user, said base plate having a forwardly projecting extension extending through said opening and adapted to extend beneath the toes of the user, whereby said toe cover encloses the upper aspect of the toes and said extension encloses the lower aspect of the toes of the user.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the toe cover is provided with at least one pair of spaced apart parallel grooves, each of said grooves being positioned on the inner aspect of opposed lower edges thereof and portions of the side edges of the extension on said base plate project into said grooves whereby said toe cover is slidably, removably secured to said extension.

4. In a surgical foot cast having an opening therein and a forward end thereof through which the toes of the user can project, a base member adapted to be positioned adjacent the sole of the foot of the user, an extension on said base member projecting forwardly through said opening and adapted to extend beneath the toes of the user, said base member also having an arch portion extending upwardly and adapted to be positioned adjacent the sides of the foot and across the top of the forward portion of the foot, a hollow toe cover adapted to enclose the toes of the user, and means detachably securing said toe cover to a portion of said base member.

5. In a surgical foot cast having a toe opening therein, an elongate base plate adapted to be placed within the material of the cast adjacent the sole of the foot, an extension integral with said base plate extending forwardly out through said opening and adapted to extend beneath the toes of the user, a member on said base plate extending forwardly of the toe opening in said cast and adapted to extend upwardly adjacent the sides of the forward part of the foot and across the top of the forward part of the foot, said member having a forward edge, a hollow toe cover having a rearward edge and means detachably securing the rearward edge of said cover to the forwardly extending edge of said member.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the member is tapered inwardly toward the forward end thereof to firmly engage the forward part of the foot of a user.

7. In a foot cast having an opening at the forward end thereof through which the toes can project, an elongate base plate adapted to be positioned against the sole of the foot, an extension on the base plate projecting forwardly through said opening and adapted to extend beneath the toes of the user, an arched member extending upwardly from the sides of the base plate and adapted to extend across the forward part of the foot, a hollow toe cover having the general shape of a spherical sector and including a horizontally disposed lower edge and a rearward generally vertically disposed edge, a sliding connection between the sides of the extension on the base plate and each side of the lower edge on said toe cover, a detachable connection between the rearward edge of said toe cover and the forward edge of said arch member, said toe cover being sufficiently large in size to provide a space between the toes of a user and the inner surface of the cover to receive a fibrous insulating material.

8. The combination of claim 2 in which the base plate includes an arched member connected at opposite ends to the forward side edges of the base plate, said arched member extending forwardly of the opening in said foot cast and adapted to extend over the forward portion of the foot of a user and having a transverse ridge at the forwardly extending edge thereof, and the rearward edge of the toe cover includes a lip adapted to detachably engage the transverse ridge on said arched member whereby said toe cover may be detachably secured to the forward edge of said arched member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Ganzhorn. Chertok. Siebrandt. Clark. Lovioh. Unkauf.

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany. Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAU'DET, Primary Examiner.

J. W. H-INEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SURGICAL FOOT CAST HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN THROUGH WHICH THE TOES CAN PROJECT, AN ELONGATE BASE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE SOLE OF THE FOOT AND RIGIDLY EMBEDDED WITHIN THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH THE CAST IS FORMED, AN EXTENSION ON SAID BASE MEMBER EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREFROM THROUGH SAID OPENING AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND BENEATH THE TOES OF THE USER, A RIGID HOLLOW TOE COVER ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AROUND THE TOES OF THE USER AND MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTING SAID COVER UPON SAID EXPOSED PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER. 